Carlton coach Mick Malthouse says he’s missed the adrenaline rush he’s experiencing on the eve of leading the Blues for the first time.

Despite saying after Carlton’s pre-season cup final thrashing by Brisbane that they might take two or three months to fully adjust to his gameplan, Malthouse says the Blues are well prepared to face Richmond at the MCG on Thursday night.

But the three-time premiership coach says there are still familiar nagging questions over whether he covered every possible eventuality at the club’s main pre-game strategy meeting on Wednesday.

“It’s something that’s an intangible that you don’t know that you miss it until it’s gone,” Malthouse told reporters.

“… That adrenaline rush when you think of the consequences of: Have you got the side prepared? Who do you play? The occasion, what’s it mean? It’s something.

“Do you crave it?

“You’d be crazy to crave it all the time.”

While confident the Blues have soaked in his gameplan, Malthouse quoted German World War Two military strategist Erwin Rommel in stressing the need for flexibility.

“No plan survives contact,” he said.

Malthouse said he wouldn’t let his own emotions get in the way of his team ethos.

“Every person at the football club would have a sense of anticipation, as would Richmond,” he said.

“We’re all in the same boat here – we’re all coming into round one with high expectations from our supporters.

“In our own case, you can’t allow that individual feel to override anything that’s got to do with the team.

“It’s not about me. It’s certainly not about me.”

And he said it wasn’t vital that the Blues posted early wins to build confidence that the way he was leading them was the right one.

“Whether you win the first six or drop the first six, it’s when the final bell goes at round 22, that’s what you worry about,” Malthouse said.

“It’s all to do with the process of just getting men to play as men for this football side.”